Gun Dog Forum

Hey all,

New member & first post to the board. I joined to try and solicit some advice from more seasoned enlgish pointer & GSP owners. I currently have a 4-yo female EP. We actually got her as a rescue around a year old with no specific intentions to hunt her, but as it turns out she has great natural instincts & ability and I've taken up an interest in upland hunting because of her. I'd like to get a second dog (puppy) after this upland season but have never gone the breeder route. My preference would be an EP, but I do like GSPs and am open to one. I have experience with both breeds beyond just my 4-yo due to years of fostering with rescue orgs. I'd like to find a few options of breeders to meet with. I'm a casual hunter so this dog isn't going to be competing, etc., and it will be a family dog.

I'm in the Kansas City area so closer the better, but I'm open to any location to find the right dog. Couple names I've seen through my own research:

EP - Kissamee Kennels in CT
GSP - Walnut Creek in GA
GSP - Blue Dawn Kennels in KS

Thank you in advance for any advice!

Walnut Hills in GA?

CWT wrote:Walnut Hills in GA?

Correct, my apologies.

You are surrounded by top gsp kennels and hobby breeders. You don't have to go out of area for a top field trial prospect let alone top notch hunting dog.

I actually know of two good litters on the ground right now in Kansas that should be close by. Good guy, he's got an almost 4 month old female that I couldn't close the deal on before my pro left Kansas. Top half is Chisholm Creek Riptide and bottom half is a Walnut Hill bitch.

If interested, drop me a pm and I'll forward you the guy's info.

GSP - don't overlook Prince's Gundog Kennel in Pittsburg KS. I have one from there, and have seen others from there. Quality gun dogs..... I've hunted with a lot of dogs and highly recommend John Prince.

Probably the Kennel at the apex of EP breeding right now is Ross Callaway at Caladen Kennels. South Carolina I think.

CWT wrote:Walnut Hills in GA?

Yes, Walnut Hill Kennels. My apologies, sorry for confusion.

kcbullets wrote:GSP - don't overlook Prince's Gundog Kennel in Pittsburg KS. I have one from there, and have seen others from there. Quality gun dogs..... I've hunted with a lot of dogs and highly recommend John Prince.

Great, thank you for the advice. Is your GSP from there a house / family dog as well? Good, amiable temperament? Thanks!

gonehuntin' wrote:Probably the Kennel at the apex of EP breeding right now is Ross Callaway at Caladen Kennels. South Carolina I think.

Thank you. Do you have any personal experience with their dogs? Appreciate the suggestion!

Join the Heart of America GSP Club (HOA) - we are a group in the Kansas City area. Lots of great dogs, lots of really great people. Some breeders and some GREAT trainers.

Check out our FB page - I just posted results from a trial this past weekend (the top 4 dogs in the Amateur Gun Dog live inside and sleep on their humans' bed).

RoostersMom wrote:Join the Heart of America GSP Club (HOA) - we are a group in the Kansas City area. Lots of great dogs, lots of really great people. Some breeders and some GREAT trainers.

Check out our FB page - I just posted results from a trial this past weekend (the top 4 dogs in the Amateur Gun Dog live inside and sleep on their humans' bed).

Thanks for the suggestion. I found / liked the FB page. How do I join / do you guys meet on a regular basis?

RockyTop1384 wrote:

gonehuntin' wrote:Probably the Kennel at the apex of EP breeding right now is Ross Callaway at Caladen Kennels. South Carolina I think.

Thank you. Do you have any personal experience with their dogs? Appreciate the suggestion!

I do not but I do know the owner. I have also had a lot of people recommend his breeding program which is probably the most advanced program in the country. A person who has tremendous success with setters told me he considers Ross at the forefront of EP breeding.

X2

Sharon wrote:X2

For Caladen Kennels?

RockyTop1384 wrote:

RoostersMom wrote:Join the Heart of America GSP Club (HOA) - we are a group in the Kansas City area. Lots of great dogs, lots of really great people. Some breeders and some GREAT trainers.

Check out our FB page - I just posted results from a trial this past weekend (the top 4 dogs in the Amateur Gun Dog live inside and sleep on their humans' bed).

Thanks for the suggestion. I found / liked the FB page. How do I join / do you guys meet on a regular basis?

I sent you a PM with details on the November meeting - if you can't make that one, we do it all over again the next month!

RockyTop1384 wrote:

Sharon wrote:X2

For Caladen Kennels?

Yes.

I dont know if I would consider Ross the apex of the pointer world. He has had some success, but not near the success as quite a few other EP guys. Mainly Wright Kennels, Gary Lester, Sean Derrig and many others that have won considerably more and produce very very nice dogs.

If you want a guard rail bred dog then Ross is probably the way to go.

Elkhunter wrote:I dont know if I would consider Ross the apex of the pointer world. He has had some success, but not near the success as quite a few other EP guys. Mainly Wright Kennels, Gary Lester, Sean Derrig and many others that have won considerably more and produce very very nice dogs.

If you want a guard rail bred dog then Ross is probably the way to go.

Amen

Elkhunter wrote:I dont know if I would consider Ross the apex of the pointer world. He has had some success, but not near the success as quite a few other EP guys. Mainly Wright Kennels, Gary Lester, Sean Derrig and many others that have won considerably more and produce very very nice dogs.

If you want a guard rail bred dog then Ross is probably the way to go.

I appreciate the different perspective. Wright Kennels is the one out of Indiana? Sean Derrig is with Erin's Kennels out of IL? Where is Gary Lester? Appreciate some of the new names and some other kennels to think about as I start to talk to folks and see what is out there and evaluate what kind of pup would be the right fit for me.

Do you have personal experience with these folks and anything that stands out about the type of dogs they produce?

I don't have any experience with them directly, but they have all made thier names by breeding and winning with dogs in HB stakes AA/SD. It would proabably be helpful to know what you are looking for in a dog. Are you a foot hunter? what kind of birds do you hunt? Do you want to trial and if so what kind of trialing? will you be training the dog yourself? The better you answer these questions the better the recomendation on breeders people can give you.

Yes sir, my dog from Prince's Kennel is a family dog. She is now 2, and I got her at about 8 weeks. She is house broke and great personality. I would tell whatever breeder you go with what type of personality of a dog you desire. I have had hyper dogs and calm dogs. In my older age, the calm dogs are much more enjoyable to be around.

Like Codym asked, what kind of traits are you looking for in a prospect?? Serious breeders are breeding for certain traits and until you determine what specific traits you are looking for in a dog, you will not know direction to start looking. You can buy pointers all day long on gundog central if any pointer will do.

Steve

"I've taken up an interest in upland hunting....................................... I'm a casual hunter so this dog isn't going to be competing, etc., and it will be a family dog. " quote OP

This statement of yours should have a big influence on the breeder you choose. You want to get the job done but not need a horse to manage the dog. You don't want to buy a porsche that you only drive in low gear.

Foot hunting for me. Mostly quail but also some pheasant or chukar primarily in western mo / eastern ks. I will be training myself. Like i said in my original post i don't have plans to compete, trial, etc. I'm a casual hunter who wants to start bringing up a pup behind my current dog. I'd prefer a calmer dog to a hyper dog, but that is all relative with breeds and age. Female preference. Appesrance wise i like bigger versions of pointers vs smaller, but thats not most important thing. Like liver & white gsps vs black. Like orange or liver & white for eps. Amiable temperamnet.

Sharon wrote:"I've taken up an interest in upland hunting....................................... I'm a casual hunter so this dog isn't going to be competing, etc., and it will be a family dog. " quote OP

This statement of yours should have a big influence on the breeder you choose. You want to get the job done but not need a horse to manage the dog. You don't want to buy a porsche that you only drive in low gear.

Yes i dont need the #1 bird dog in the country. But i want a pup that will be trainable, amiable, intelligent, good nose...one who is excited about the field but equally loves being part of the family.

Walnut Hills has a variety of females, and males. I have a 4 month old pup out of sam man that I'm really liking. Tell them what you want and see what they say

My #1 GSP was sired by Walnut Hill's Fritz; my #2 GSP is 100% Walnut Hill (he is basically a nephew of #1). Both are wonderful pets, hunting companions, and all round good dogs.

#1 is an AFC, MH, and placed 4th at the National Amateur Walking Gundog Trials last year. #2 is really coming along nicely; he recently earning a leg of MH. He has also placed in gundog stakes. They are intelligent, enthusiastic hunters with great noses, lots of energy, and great temperaments. We really enjoy them.

Sounds like Walnut Hill, while not in my back yard, is one I'll definitely be contacting to find out about their program and if my needs are a good fit with their dogs. For those of you who have Walnut Hill dogs, what size are the females generally.....50 lbs? Thanks!

For what you are looking for in a pointer and given your location call jim Harris at Harris kennels, I believe they are in Ft. Scott. They have a couple litters that may be what your looking for.

Don't know if you would be interested but I have some Guard Rail-Honky Tonk Attitude pups on the ground that should make excellent foot dogs. I also have a litter that was just born that is heavy Crow's Little Joe with a touch of Attitude blood as well. Both of these litters should satisfy your needs. Located in SW MO

Scott, What's the breeding on the CLJ litter?

Mike

Mike u can see it on gundog central or i can send it to u later. On my phone and csnnot do itcon it.

codym wrote:For what you are looking for in a pointer and given your location call jim Harris at Harris kennels, I believe they are in Ft. Scott. They have a couple litters that may be what your looking for.

I have them on the list & will make it a point to reach out to them. Thanks!

sckwest1 wrote:Don't know if you would be interested but I have some Guard Rail-Honky Tonk Attitude pups on the ground that should make excellent foot dogs. I also have a litter that was just born that is heavy Crow's Little Joe with a touch of Attitude blood as well. Both of these litters should satisfy your needs. Located in SW MO

I saw the pedigree on gundog central. Do you have link to pics of parents / pups?

steelcitykennels.com

Thanks. I'll take a look. Two other breeders I might ask about are Willow Creek Kennels up in Little Falls, MN and the Minnesota Horse and Hunt Club Kennels. Anybody have any experience with them? Both breed GSPs. Thanks!

Yes Willow Creek is in Little Falls Minnesota. Chad will treat you right. Grouse point kennels and Dankar kennels both in Wi. both produce nice foot handling dogs. We'll be breeding our VC Gunslinger's NW Heartbreaker to INT CH VC Dankars Ready and Able Blitz MH. Both super nice wild bird dog. This breeding won't happen until Late Jan early Feb. I'd also be talking to Carolina Gundogs. Tim has a litter post now. Tim's a very stand up guy.

Ms. Cage wrote:Tim's a very stand up guy.

+1

Jason Goslinga at Pro Shot Kennels in Iowa has well bred puppies on the ground. good dogs a good guy that has been around awhile.
A guy up here has a litter available around Christmas by my stud dog Sunny. Pm if interested and I will send his information.
freidelshiems has a litter on the way I believe........................Cj

Is your looking that far up you should check Freidelshiems and Sundance for sure.

Thanks for the kind words everyone!
I have very high expectations for the litter I have recently whelped. I will be keeping several of the pups to forward my kennel with.

This is not an endorsement or a recommendation as I have no experience with them or the quality of their dogs. But Nitro Kennels right there in Missouri breeds EP's with the intent of being for the foot hunter.

madmurph wrote:This is not an endorsement or a recommendation as I have no experience with them or the quality of their dogs. But Nitro Kennels right there in Missouri breeds EP's with the intent of being for the foot hunter.

Thanks! Has anyone else worked with or would endorse nitro?

I had a dog from Nitro Kennels years ago that was mediocre at best in the field.

I would not endorse or recommend Nitro Kennels.

Mask x2

3 dogs in a month? That's nuts. I spend a couple years picking out a litter and getting a pup.

greg jacobs wrote:3 dogs in a month? That's nuts. I spend a couple years picking out a litter and getting a pup.

They were no brainer litters. Lottery ticket bitches*, with great pedigrees, bred to national champ studs, with great pedigrees, that made sense.

It should have been more. If i could have, i would have doubled up on at least 2 of the litters. I got closed out of another litter and couldn't come up with a fair price for a flyer dog.

* - a well bred bitch that wins nationals, etc

Looks like we live in 2 different worlds. I certainly couldn't afford to buy 3 dogs in a month and the place them with trainers and handlers. Although it sounds like a lot of fun. I'm sure part of us were throwing out names that could provide him with a really nice gundog.

greg jacobs wrote:Looks like we live in 2 different worlds. I certainly couldn't afford to buy 3 dogs in a month and the place them with trainers and handlers. Although it sounds like a lot of fun. I'm sure part of us were throwing out names that could provide him with a really nice gundog.

My point is that, in the 2010s, it is easier than ever for anybody to buy an exceptionally well bred GSP.

20 years ago, these litters never made it past a small circle of people.